Israeli lawmakers led by National Security Minister Ben-Gvir were caught on camera celebrating the passage of a highly controversial death penalty bill outside the parliamentary hall with champagne. Human rights organizations, multiple countries, and even the United Nations have warned that this newly passed legislation is discriminatory and will disproportionately target Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

Under the law passed Tuesday in the Israeli parliament by a vote of 62 in favor and 47 opposed, Palestinians found guilty of committing lethal terrorist attacks aimed at "ending Israel's existence" will be sentenced to hanging. Such cases in the occupied West Bank will be tried by military courts, while those within Israel will be handled under civilian criminal law. The execution must take place within 90 days of the verdict and cannot be commuted. Judges may only reduce the death sentence to life imprisonment in certain unspecified "special circumstances."

In a video released by the Israeli parliament, Ben-Gvir is seen pulling out a bottle of wine inside the parliamentary chamber, praising the move as "a day of justice for victims and a day of deterrence against enemies." Prime Minister Netanyahu personally attended Tuesday’s parliamentary session and cast a vote in favor of the law, but did not join in the celebration.

The office of Palestinian President Abbas issued a statement saying: "Such laws and measures will not break the will of the Palestinian people or weaken their firm stance."

The law has already drawn criticism and condemnation from human rights organizations, multiple countries, and the United Nations. Germany, France, the UK, Italy, and Australia jointly issued a statement on Monday expressing "deep concern" over the legislation's "de facto discriminatory nature" and urging Jerusalem to abandon its plans.

An expert group at the United Nations also declared the law discriminatory in early February, warning that "military trials of civilians by Israel typically do not meet standards for fair trial." They added, "Denying the right to a fair trial is itself a war crime."

Israel abolished the death penalty for murder in 1954. The only execution carried out by the Jewish state was in 1962, when Nazi Holocaust planner Adolf Eichmann was executed on charges of genocide.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1861235661496393/

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